Although coronaviruses were identified as pathogens many decades ago (ECDC, 2020) the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is caused by a newly discovered coronavirus (WHO, 2020).
The COVID-19 was initially identified in the Chinese city of Wuhan, back in December 2019. Ever-since, it has spread all over the world and classified as Pandemic by the World Health Organization (Harvard Health, 2020).

The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva and discharge from the nose when an infected person is coughing or sneezing (WHO, 2020).

The virus can survive for several hours in ordinary surfaces or subjects (ECDC, 2020).
Touching of an infected surface or subject, where the virus is present and then touching the nose, the mouth or the eyes may also spread the disease(CDC, 2020).

A person infected with COVID-19, may have a fever, cough, shortness of breath 2-14 days after exposure (CDC, 2020) In some cases, however, signs such as Trouble breathing, Persistent pain or pressure in the chest, New confusion or inability to arouse, Bluish lips or face may also develop

According to the University of Johns Hopkins, there are more than 669,312 confirmed cases and 30,982 deaths worldwide with a huge socio-economic impact on governments and communities.

To avoid the spreading of the disease and the overwhelming of health care services, many countries introduced several measures such as the closing of schools, universities, banning of mass gatherings and activities, a mandatory physical distance from other people, and limits on movement.
Those measures are known as social distancing or self-quarantine. (JHU, 2020)

Resat Alagiali

 

References

Scientific advice on coronavirus [WWW Document], 2020. . European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. URL https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/coronavirus/guidance-and-technical-reports (accessed 3.29.20).

Coronavirus [WWW Document], n.d. URL https://www.who.int/westernpacific/health-topics/coronavirus (accessed 3.29.20).

Coronavirus Resource Center – Harvard Health [WWW Document], n.d. URL https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/coronavirus-resource-center (accessed 3.29.20).

Q & A on COVID-19 [WWW Document], n.d. . European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. URL https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/novel-coronavirus-china/questions-answers (accessed 3.29.20).

CDC, 2020. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) – Transmission [WWW Document]. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. URL https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-covid-spreads.html (accessed 3.29.20).

Symptoms of Coronavirus | CDC [WWW Document], 2020. URL https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html (accessed 3.29.20).

Systems.jhu.edu. 2020. Ncov – CSSE. [online] Available at: <https://systems.jhu.edu/research/public-health/ncov/> [Accessed 29 March 2020].

Coronavirus, Social Distancing and Self-Quarantine [WWW Document], n.d. URL https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/coronavirus-social-distancing-and-self-quarantine (accessed 3.29.20).